r/gaming • u/STEELGUARD • Jun 26 '12

I make arcade sticks out of old shoeboxes.

http://imgur.com/a/JLKzf
882 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

149 comments sorted by

76

u/Madnessx9 Jun 26 '12

surely using some plywood or mdf and these would last long than 2 button bashing minutes?

18

u/STEELGUARD Jun 26 '12

Of course, good sir. These are the prototypes, just cardboard with some Wal-Mart spraypaint and a lot of moxie.

They're actually very resilient. You have to hand it to Nike.

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2

u/STEELGUARD Jun 26 '12

Thank you for the kind words, my friends.

Tutorial is up on Facepunch, so long as you don't mind making an account

http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1192949&p=36499002#post36499002

5

u/hachirusto Jun 26 '12

Looks good but looks like they will break as soon as the first button masher comes along

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2

u/wonkizzle Jun 26 '12

If you don't mind me asking, where do you get your button setups from? I could totally see me do something like this with something else that I don't want to say because I don't want anyone else doing it first. Not a shoebox though, I think that's clever, especially if you added some reinforcement.

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2

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '12 edited Jun 27 '12

The button placement is wonky and the stick is too close to them. Google some Candy Cab models for control panel templates. New Astro City 2p12b is the norm for these.

The buttons look knock off. Definitely not regular Sanwa buttons. Sanwa also uses a BLACK connector for the joysticks for several years now. Try for legit Sanwa parts, Seimitsu if you want cheaper. It's all preference really. You'll also want to cut your wire sleeves better or wrap them with electrical tape, cause yours are all kinds of exposed. Also the crimps you are using from Home Depot or whatever are not really made for this. Actually... it doesn't even look like you crimped the ends at all.... can't really tell whats going on but definitely not crimped. And please tell me you connected the grounds to an actual ground.

You can order smaller buttons for the start/select/back stuff. Back of the box is a terrible place for these. Build a real controller with some real area to work in, it's barely 5$ in wood.

If you can't find the diagrams; let me know. I'll measure from my machines.

If anyone cares I restore/refurbish (fiberglass repair and all) import candy cabinets. I've made a few MDF custom joysticks. Some with leg padding, lights, custom joystick balls with objects in them etc. I've been doing this for about 20 years. PM me if you need anything. Forgive the snobbishness.

edit; here:

http://slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

Just print a template and feel the layout difference.

My last refurb; http://imgur.com/a/YiFaW#0

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21

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12

That is a lot of time and effort to put into something as weak as a shoe box. A plastic, metal, or wooden housing is a must.

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12

u/CarelessMonday Jun 26 '12

This would be destroyes in rage induced button mash

1

u/STEELGUARD Jun 27 '12

Note: This is the first time I've ever picked a drill, first time I've ever used a soldering iron, first time I've spray painted since 4th grade, and the first time I've ever been to Home Depot.

Don't expect perfection, just originality.